St. John’s Prep jazz band plays national competition

DANVERS — The St. John’s Prep Jazz Eagles flew to Philadelphia last weekend for a special performance at the National High School Jazz Competition.

The jazz quintet competed in the first in-person version of this event since the start of the pandemic, going up against more than 50 ensembles from some of the top music programs in the nation.

While they didn’t place in the overall competition, guitar player and Melrose resident Charlie Mitchell received a Judges’ Choice Award and an Outstanding Jazz Musician Award.

“I was really caught off-guard because the room was just full of people and I heard so many great musicians that day,” said Mitchell, an 18-year-old senior.

“Jazz for me is more about not just playing the songs themselves, but playing with other people and interacting with other musicians on an artistic level.”

Mitchell is joined in the quintet by bass guitarist Rowan Jones, tenor sax polar Arthur “Liam” Sullivan, drummer Nate Leonard and guitarist Chris Jalbert, a 16-year-old Danvers resident.

“We did pretty-pretty good and we’re proud of how we performed,” Jalbert said. “All the criticisms that we were given was new information that we hadn’t really thought about, and it was really insightful to hear what professionals had to say about us.”

The group performed “Bright Size Life” by Pat Metheny, a guitar-focused song the students had to adapt to include saxophone. They also played a more traditional jazz-sounding song, “Strasbourg St. Denis” by Roy Hargrove, and a jazz fusion piece by Indigo Jam Unit called “Sepia.”

The students created their own solos to perform during the pieces and also attended clinics at the competition. In their free time, they went sightseeing and attended a performance of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The Jazz Eagles play an upward of 15 performances each year, including at concerts and school events.

“They are very well prepared, very well polished,” group director Seelan Manickam said. “Not all of them are necessarily going to continue this as a career, but yet it’s an important part of their life.”

Jalbert wants to go to college for audio engineering. He wants music to be the backbone of his future career, he said. Just like it’s at the core of his high school experience.

“Being a part of (Jazz Eagles) is just fun,” he said. “It’s been the best way to bring my interest in guitar into school. It’s a place where I feel comfortable being able to take my ideas and put them into the world.”

Contact Caroline Enos at CEnos@northofboston.com